Team

Renowned staff from wide-ranging disciplines

Linda Hoppe, Bkin, TRP, MT

I am Linda Hoppe, the Proud Owner, CEO, and co-founder of Seminars for Health Inc, the Western Canada leader in Massage Therapy, Advanced online and in-person Education. I have utilized my 30+ years of experience treating, instructing, curriculum design, and course development to acquire the best faculty to develop courses exclusive to Seminars for Health.

I grew up in a small French town in Quebec with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters and hard-working parents who believed in education and playing outside. With my parent’s encouragement, I graduated as a physiotherapy technician, discovering a new passion for treating acute care patients practicing in local hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes in Quebec, Montreal, and Guadalajara, Spain. For the love of traveling and learning languages, I moved to Calgary in 1989, the city of opportunities and the bright future I now call home. Went back to school to become a Massage Therapist graduating from Mount Royal College, and then completed a kinesiology degree at the University of Calgary, wanting more education to support my new career as a faculty member of Mount Royal university.   In 1999, I met Chris, fell in love, and we married and now have 2 wonderful children, Dominique and Mika. After many years of instructing massage therapy, I became passionate about elevating the level of education in the profession in Alberta. I started Seminars for Health with this goal in mind whilst Chris and I parented our children.

Passionately invested in bettering my profession, I was determined to do whatever I could to serve the public better, ensuring everyone seeking massage therapy would get the best treatment they could and eventually elevate the massage therapy industry. I believe in education; my mother ensured that by modeling hard work and being a teacher. As the CEO of Seminars for Health, I have found intelligent, educated, passionate, and experienced instructors who helped in the incredible development and instruction of 40 unique courses and certification programs. I take special pride in you becoming certified with us. You showcasing your SFH Certification means that you can safely and proficiently apply your new skill learned in helping your clients with this new modality. Certification will instill confidence in the clients you treat.

Our faculty and I have developed the following programs. SFH Orthopedic Massage, SFH Kinetic Massage in-person and online, SFH-Assisted Stretching Therapy online, SFH Oncology Massage, SFH Intraoral TMJ, Client Retention Strategies, Holistic Nutrition Online, and Target Muscle Release Online Certification. In addition, I have published and created Dynamic Muscle Base, Kinetic Method principles, and SFH Orthopedic Massage Handbook. I am proud to say I was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 at the USA’s World Massage Festival.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the classroom.

Dominique Hoppe

Dominique is the Assistant Manager for Seminars for Health. He is vital in implementing and managing the system for both online and in-person training platforms. Being with the company since 2015, he can propose a solution thriving for efficient system operations and customer service. Dominique works closely with management and is an excellent asset to the company.

Jill Hooke

Jill is the Customer Service & Operation’s backbone that supports the growing Seminars for Health community. She possesses a proven skillset developed through 6-years of dedicated service within the Human Resources field.  Her career began in Calgary and then continued in Australia where she worked in the HR departments of two large companies. With her passion for the complementary health profession, she is a natural fit within the Seminars for Health team.

Jill is the person to get the job done by bringing creativity, warmth, problem-solving skills and attention to detail to her work. She is highly motivated, open-minded and passionate about supporting people. Jill is the friendly face that you can rely on to welcome and support your needs through your continuing education; she is happy to help you. Jill can be reached at info@seminarsforhealth.ca

Mara Boaru, PT, BScPT, RMT

Mara is an excellent instructor choice for you if you want more precision in your work. Creator and instructor of SFH Intraoral TMJ with Precision Program and co-instructor of the SFH Orthopedic Massage and Kinetic Massage Certification programs, Mara provides superior instruction, explaining distinct specifics of finger placement, to effect best treatment results. She has a tremendous amount of patience in teaching detailed anatomy and palpation skills. She is known for her attentiveness, humor and approachable style. This is a perfect combination to have when instructing intraoral palpation of a vulnerably and hidden area.

Human movement is Mara’s fascination and passion. Obtaining a Physiotherapy degree in 2008, she went on to strengthening her hands-on skills, graduating from Mount Royal University Massage Therapy program in 2010. Mara is an avid learner, acquiring an abundance of continuing education courses and seminars.  Her special interests are mobility, palpation, jaw and neck regions. Her talents are demonstrated by instructing the SFH Orthopedic Massage, SFH Kinetic Massage, and SFH Dynamic Cupping Certification programs and Cadaver Lab.

Lisa Gossen, BSc, RMT, CHNC

Lisa brings extensive knowledge from her wide education background. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary, a diploma in Massage Therapy from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy and is a graduate from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition as a Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant.

Lisa has been practicing Massage Therapy for 28 years. Her experience treating clients in a wide variety of settings including chronic pain clinics, chiropractic offices, and spas. She has taught advanced Massage Therapy techniques and provided Health Care Seminars as a Health Educator for companies such as The City of Calgary, Encana Corporation and Seminars for Health. Lisa is the course developer and instructor of the Holistic Nutrition series of courses. She provides an attainable holistic nutrition approach that can benefit anyone.

She is currently the owner of Inner Balance Spa in Calgary where she continues to practice therapeutic massage, Myofascial Release and Nutritional consulting.

Jocelyn Hansen, RMT

Jocelyn’s massage specializing is with cervical treatments, headaches and MVA rehabilitation. She successfully integrates SFH Dynamic Cupping into her therapeutic practice to help decompress tissues to achieve optimal recovery for her clients. She recognizes that no single approach is right for every individual. Her treatment approach is catered to be as personalized as possible and greatly enhanced with her skills as an SFH Dynamic Cupping and Massage therapist. Jocelyn’s positive, warm personality and desire to help which makes her a perfect fit to instruct the SFH Dynamic Cupping Program offered by Seminars For Health. Jocelyn is an avid continuing education participant; she is always looking for new ways to improving her skills and become a better therapist and business woman. She is a Mount Royal University’s 2200 hour Massage Therapy Diploma program graduate.

Clarissa Eshleman, RMT

Clarissa Eshleman is a Massage Therapist, graduating from Mount Royal University’s 2200 Hour Massage Therapy Program in 2013. She has been a vital asset to the Seminars for Health Team since 2016 as a teaching assistant to an instructor position. Clarissa specializes and teaches Dynamic Cupping,  Orthopedic Massage, TMJ, and Kinetic Massage.

She has an ever-growing passion for advanced education in the Massage Therapy Field and strives to increase her knowledge to continue to share and educate health care practitioners after her. She is a strong supporter of a healthy lifestyle and natural alternatives to heal ailments, prevention of injury, and stress management through massage therapy.

Janet Penny, RMT

Janet Penny, RMT and co-author of Oncology Massage:  An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care (Handspring 2021), is instructing the SFH Oncology Massage Program for Seminars for Health. Janet has been practicing as a massage therapist in Ottawa, Ontario, since 2007. She is fascinated by the resiliency of the human body and all it goes through.

Janet’s massage practice focuses on working with people with cancer.  Her treatment approach addresses the multi-faceted needs of oncology massage clients, including pre-and post-surgical treatments, scar tissue, radiation fibrosis, neuropathy, and pain within the complex context of the client’s emotions that pervade and influence the body.

Janet is the SFH instructor for:

Safe Practices in Oncology Massage – two-hour webinar

Fundamentals of Oncology Massage Level 1 – 7 hrs in-person class

Oncology Soft Tissue Manipulation Level 2 – 24 hrs in-person class

Steve Heinrich, PT

Steve Heinrich, PT has been a practicing physical therapist for over forty years. He has worked in private practice, been the Rehabilitation Director for a regional hospital and a Home Health Company, and has been teaching Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Release seminars for more than thirty years. He was a senior clinical instructor with John Barnes, PT / Myofascial Release Seminars Inc. for many years and studied with John Barnes, PT, and the Upledger Institute. Steve’s articles on Craniosacral Therapy have been published many times in dental, physical therapy, and massage therapy journals and have been used extensively in the teaching materials of his mentors. He teaches Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Release Seminars for several organizations, but Primarily for Seminars for Health.

Mike Horne, RMT

Mike has been practicing massage therapy for 15 years, has been a Massage Therapy instructor since 2003; starting to teach at ICT Northumberland College in Halifax Nova Scotia as well as CCMH Halifax and Calgary campuses. Mike has been involved with many different sections of the profession from Cruise Ships, land based resorts in other countries, along with setting up a training academy in the UK for a the cruise ship spa company. His practice has been varied and dynamic throughout the years ranging from National and professional Athletes, to the theater and dance communities, along with special population groups from chronic pain and neurological conditions. His treatment plans are effectively focused with his vast knowledge and experience of assessment skills.

He is currently a Lead instructor at Mount Royal University’s Massage Therapy program and has been with them since 2010, and was also involved with the curriculum review group and rewrite. He is a talented instructor and presenter who delivers the material in a logical and comprehensible manner. He was the lead massage therapist at Landmark Collaborative Health and is sitting on the board of directors for the MTAA.

Cheryl Harsch, RMT

Cheryl recognized her passion for health and wellness at a young age. After successfully obtaining a 2200 hrs. Massage Therapy diploma from Mount Royal University in June 2014, Cheryl worked with a chiropractic centre, wellness centre specializing in lymph drainage therapy, and as a mobile therapist throughout Calgary and Cochrane.

Cheryl continues to invest in herself by acquiring additional education while developing and honing her skills. In addition to her personal growth, Cheryl believes patient education and understanding are a fundamental part of ensuring each person reaches their optimum state of well-being and improving their quality of life.

Cheryl has a strong internal and external client service focus, commitment to excellence and professionalism with the highest job performance standards. Her empathic and nurturing personality makes her an asset with Seminars for Health as she can personally relate to our students. As a Teacher Assistant, our students will feel supported and comforted by Cheryl’s friendly demeanour as she empowers them while learning a new skill.

Cristina McDonagh, RMT

Cristina is part of the SFH team as a teaching assistant. She has completed her 2200 + hrs training at Makami College Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy Program and is an active member of the CRMTA. Cristina focuses her practice on injury rehabilitation treating sports-related conditions, motor vehicle accidents, and postural dysfunction.

She has proudly completed certifications in SFH Kinetic Massage, SFH Orthopedic Massage, SFH Dynamic Cupping, and RAPID Neurofascial Reset.

Cristina has also travelled to Bali, Indonesia, where she has learned techniques in Traditional Balinese Massage. She integrates and applies her learned techniques during her treatments to provide her clients with effective and individualized therapy. Cristina has a thirst for knowledge and a passion for advanced massage therapy education. As a Teacher’s Assistant, Cristina’s warm, cheerful, and accepting nature allows students to flourish while learning and honing new skills.

Kathleen Andreiuk, BA, RMT

We are excited to welcome Kathleen to the Seminars for Health faculty. Kathleen will join our growing team of TAs always available to support our instructors. Kathleen graduated from MacEwan Universities Massage Therapy program in 2015. She works in a physiotherapy clinic treating a variety of patients. Kathleen has been trained as a Physical and Occupational Therapy Assistant and has a Bachelor of Arts. Her hobbies include weight lifting and kickboxing as well as outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and snowshoeing. Seminars for Health is excited to have such a diverse skillset and be a part of the team.

Dr. Justin Tan

Dr. Justin is a chiropractic physician specializing in optimal health performance. Graduating
with a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from Palmer West College of Chiropractic in
California, he received the Palmer West Clinical Excellence and Virgil V. Strang Chiropractic
Philosophy awards.
Justin is a Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms), Functional Range
Release Practitioner (FR) and has certifications in Active Release Technique (ART), Graston
and has complete training in all Rocktape Education inclusive of Movement and Mobility
Specialist. Justin has an advanced certification from the International College of Applied
Kinesiology and is an Optimize Life Coach.
Privileged to be an Instructor for Rocktape, he teaches world leading movement
education to health practitioners across Canada. Justin consults as a Health
Performance Coach for TV celebrities, provides medical performance therapy for the
Canadian Olympic Bobsleigh and Skeleton teams and is a lifestyle legacy ambassador for Lululemon.

Bob Cross, BPE, RMT

An education leader, Bob has elevated the massage therapy industry through his academic contributions. He is respected amongst Seminars for Health’s faculty of instructors and by the massage therapy industry for his knowledge and passion to raise the overall standards of massage therapy. Bob has been heavily involved within the massage education sector including being a co-founder of Seminars for Health with Linda Hoppe. He has been teaching various components of Massage Therapy for 20+ years. He was a Senior Instructor with Mount Royal University and currently Department Head and Senior Instructor with MaKami College and instructor with Seminars for Health. Bob is appreciated by his students for his gift of delivery when teaching. Bob’s talent and reputation solidified Seminars for Health’s entrance rights to instruct gross anatomy at the Cadaver Lab at Foothills Hospital. His astute anatomy skills makes him especially invaluable as a Cadaver Lab and Palpation with Precision instructor.